Everyone wants to have clear, healthy skin. Whether it’s acne scars, melasma, or even birthmarks, many people purchase skin lightening creams to deal with cosmetic skin problems. Often, these products are easy to use and can be effective in evening skin tone when you’re dealing with genetic or hormonal blemishes.

Sometimes, though, this desire for beautiful skin goes deeper than blemishes. Around the world, skin lightening treatments with dangerous toxins are often used to whiten complexions due to fear of prejudices against darker skin tones.

Skin lightening has been common for centuries, so it’s not surprising that there are many reasons for why people seek skin lightening and what treatments they try. But just like the ingredients in your food or the filter system of your drinking water, it’s important to be aware of what you might be exposing your body to.

A Brief History of Skin Lightening

Skin lightening practices date at least as far back as the Elizabethan Era. In sixteenth and seventeenth century Europe, people went to extreme measures to achieve what was considered beautiful skin.

At the time, society associated wealth and power with pale skin untanned by long hours spent outdoors. The paler your skin, the higher your status. And in those days, aristocrats went to great lengths to raise their status.

Many consider Queen Elizabeth I to be the most famous historical example of skin lightening in this period. Like many aristocrats, Queen Elizabeth I used Venetian ceruse to give her appearance a ghostly pallor.

Also known as the ‘Spirits of Saturn,’ Venetian ceruse was the most popular cosmetic of the period. Sixteenth century cosmeticians made ceruse from a poisonous mixture of white lead and vinegar. This toxic cream caused hair loss, skin damage, and eventually death. The desire for paler skin spread worldwide from there as Europeans colonized around the world.

Skin Lightening Practices Around the World

While in the United States, most skin lightening (or skin brightening as it is commonly called) is for small blemishes and fixing uneven skin tone. Skin lightening practices that lighten the whole body are far more common and accepted in other parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Countries in these regions tend to have much weaker regulations on medical products and procedures.

For many people across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, lightening one’s skin has very strong socioeconomic incentives. Studies have shown lighter-skinned individuals often have better job opportunities and are paid more for doing the same work as their darker-skinned counterparts. And in many societies, it is believed that lighter-skinned individuals have an easier time finding a wife or husband.

As a result, people with darker complexions often risk their health by using harsh chemicals and carcinogens to lighten their skin. Luckily, some countries are beginning to fight back with policy. Several West African nations including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are now taking the issue very seriously. Ghana has banned hydroquinone due to its effects on the body. Hydroquinone can cause itchy, burning skin and it’s not uncommon for the chemical to also cause darker skin.

The Toxic Ingredient in Some Skin Lightening Creams

Mercury is an extremely toxic chemical that can damage the human body’s nervous, digestive and immune systems. It can also lead to insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction. Unfortunately, it is also an active ingredient in many of today’s popular skin lightening creams.

Though skin creams containing mercury are illegal to sell in the United States (as well as throughout most of the developed world), a number of U.S. consumers report purchasing skin lightening creams that have tested positive for mercury in the lab. In response, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cracking down on these alarming incidents.

Prominent dermatologist Dr. Eliot F. Battle Jr. has seen many cases of skin damage due to mercury poisoning while treating a diverse set of clients who have used skin lightening products. Dr. Battle has noted an increase in recent years as the Internet has made many unregulated and unsafe products easier to buy.

The Adverse Side Effects of Steroids

Many skin lightening creams do not contain mercury. But steroids and other active ingredients in skin lightening products also have adverse side effects. Ingredients with a strong likelihood of causing negative health effects include hydroquinone, clobetasol propionate, or corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone.

These are extremely potent chemicals that are prescription-only in many countries. The FDA is presently considering new restrictions on hydroquinone to prevent products that contain it from being sold over the counter.

Another common ingredient, clobetasol propionate, is the most potent topical steroid available to dermatologists. When used incorrectly, clobetasol propionate causes hypertension, permanent stretch marks, elevated blood sugar and suppression of the body’s natural steroids. It’s illegal to use without a doctor’s prescription, but it remains an ingredient in many popular skin lightening creams.

Most dermatologists agree that it’s best to steer clear of any product containing hydroquinone, clobetasol propionate, or corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone unless using it under a doctor’s direction.

Intravenous Glutathione: A New Skin Lightening Technique with Unknown Side Effects

Intravenous glutathione is a relatively new technique many people are using to achieve an even, lighter skin tone. Intravenous glutathione treatments are meant to eliminate scars and blotches while lightening skin color overall.

Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in human cells. Advocates claim glutathione boosts the immune system, neutralizes free radicals, detoxifies the body and lightens the skin. This antioxidant causes skin lightening effects by disabling the enzyme tyrosinase which causes skin pigmentation.

However there are currently no major scientific studies on the effects of intravenous form for skin lightening. This means long-term side effects are virtually unknown. “There’s a lot we don’t know about it. That’s the biggest problem,” said Dr. Fran E. Cook-Bolden, a prominent Manhattan-based dermatologist.

Safer Alternatives

Many responsible cosmetics retailers sell toners, serums, and other skin care products that can safely modify the unsightly appearance of acne scars, melasma, birthmarks, and other dermatological conditions. These products do not contain mercury, hydroquinone or other substances that could put your health at risk.

Unsightly age spots or skin problems due to hormonal changes can be quickly fixed with cosmetic brighteners and serums. You can apply products, like our over the counter serum, twice a day and see results. Just make sure the area is clean and dry. Serious skin conditions can be treated with the assistance of a licensed dermatologist.

The practice of skin lightening does not have to involve dangerous chemicals. Plenty of safer alternatives exist and work well!

It can be empowering to take charge of defining your own identity both to yourself and the rest of the world. But these positive activities can be lost if you forget how beautiful you really are no matter what. Skin lightening products can be safe. Insecurity should never lead to putting your safety or your health at risk. Loving oneself can be a lifelong struggle, but it’s worth the effort to commit to self-care.

Let’s face it—being a mom is a full-time job with not much wiggle room. You make time for the big things: class projects, after school activities, and your own career. But when it comes to the “me time”, forget it.

So, it’s no wonder that busy moms need help to prevent ingrown hairs after waxing. Ingrown hairs are sometimes caused by dead skin cells blocking a pore that has a hair follicle trying to grow out of it. Since the pore is covered, the follicle cannot protrude from the skin, and instead grows underneath.

So how can a busy mom squeeze in the time to prevent ingrown hairs after waxing? Here are five quick and easy things you can do to accomplish just that!

Clean Before Waxing

Cleaning your skin in warm water and with soap can help prepare it for waxing. Using a good loofah or washcloth can clear away dirt and dead skin cells that can clog your pores and make the follicles harder to pull out. Plus, the warm water softens the skin, making it more pliable and willing to let those hairs go. Don’t make it too hot, though, because hot wax on sensitive skin is exactly as uncomfortable as it sounds!

Perfect Your Technique

The actual wax can go a long way toward preventing ingrown hairs. The most important thing to know about waxing is proper technique. The trick is to observe the direction of the wax pull from your skin, it should be parallel. Not only that, but you need to do it quickly. Speed matters. That’s why it’s usually better to go to a professional. Waxing at home puts you at greater risk for ingrown hairs.

Use Moisturizers and Other Creams

There are great products available to help reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs. Moisturizers can soften your skin and sometimes exfoliate. Some products may even heal inflammation caused by waxing. Watch your skin and get to know what it needs, because every skin type is different. If you start to notice an itching, burning rash, discontinue use of any skin product, including your wax, as you may be allergic.

Exfoliate to Make Your Skin Glow

Sure, this tip should really be done before the wax, but the best way to protect your skin when you’re a busy bee is to exfoliate daily. That can’t be stressed enough. Day in and day out, life leaves grunge on your skin. Dead skin cells separate from your skin every moment, but remain there, even after washing, mixing in with that grunge for a type of “body soup.” Using a good exfoliant scrub clears away the dead skin, allowing the living tissue to get more air and nutrients, and clearing the way for those stubborn hairs to poke out!

Cool It

After your wax, a cold compress applied to your skin can reduce irritation. The hair follicles are yanked out at their roots, and while the reward is smooth, clear skin, the process does cause irritation beneath the skin as well as on the surface. The coolness helps the irritation subside, allowing your pores to open back up. Just a few minutes of holding it on the irritation can reduce it significantly, and also the stinging, burning pain that sometimes accompanies it.

Busy moms hardly have any time for themselves, between their own pursuits and their children’s. Whether shuttling the kids around or juggling work and home, it’s hard for a mom to find the time to really pamper herself. The five tips above take very little time and can be done around your schedule. So use these five easy ways to prevent ingrown hairs after waxing, and enjoy smooth, soft skin after your wax!

Sleep is one of the most important things you can give your body to ensure health and happiness. However, it’s not always easy to achieve sleep the way that it’s intended to be truly well-rested and to aid in being productive throughout the day.

The American Sleep Association (ASA) reports that between 50 to 70 million adults have a sleeping disorder while 35.3 percent of adults report that they sleep an average of less than seven hours during a typical 24-hour period. Since the average adult requires between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, that means that many adults aren’t even meeting this minimum on a nightly basis.

A healthy amount of sleep can lead to many benefits, including things like increased concentration and productivity, a faster metabolism, and a decreased risk of depression. An adequate amount of sleep can also improve the function of your immune system, improve memory, spur creativity, and encourage a healthy body weight.

As you can tell, receiving enough sleep is vital to one’s overall health and well-being. However, many Americans don’t receive even the recommended minimum hours of sleep to achieve these benefits.

There is a range of factors that contribute to the loss of sleep, from sleep disorders to heightened anxiety. Understanding the signs your body gives you to signal that you need more sleep to determining when to see a doctor are important steps in ensuring you are receiving enough z’s to remain healthy and happy.

Hitting the sack with enough time to snooze each night may seem like no big deal, but losing sleep does have harmful effects. Learn more about warning signs that you’re  not catching enough shut eye as well as the warning signs that you should seek professional help below to maintain your health and optimal state of mind via the information presented below.

No one likes to have hyperpigmentation and age spots, but what can you do about them? It turns out that skin lightening treatments really can help! Something as simple as an over-the-counter skin lightening product can make a huge difference in your physical appearance.

But not all skin lightening treatments are the same. Find out what you need to know about the skin lightening treatments that work, and the skin lightening treatments that could be damaging your skin.

The Science Behind Skin Lightening Treatments

Skin lightening is also known as skin bleaching, skin brightening and whitening. It works by a chemical in the skin lightening treatment interacting with a person’s skin pigments. This reduces the amount of color in someone’s skin cells and can affect their overall appearance.

The color of a person’s skin is determined by the amount of melanin in their skin cells. Genetics determine specifically how much melanin you are born with naturally. If your skin is darker then you have more melanin. If it is lighter then you have less melanin.

Certain areas of your skin can develop darker areas over time from things such as hormones, skin diseases,  sunspots and age spots. These darker areas can become even darker with age and sun exposure. They are usually a permanent change to your skin color unless you undergo skin lightening treatments to lighten the areas.

Why Do People Use Skin Lightening Treatments?

Skin lightening treatments have been used to lighten naturally dark skin. Some individuals like to use it all over their skin to lighten the color of all of their skin. It is also used to reduce skin imperfections such as freckles, acne scars and age spots.

Medical professional have also prescribed skin lightening treatments for patients that have skin diseases and disorders. The skin lightening treatments don’t actually help to cure the skin disease, but they do lessen the appearance of a skin disease. This helps a patient to feel less conscientious about their skin disease or disorder.

Skin Lightening Products

You can buy brightening creams over the counter or a doctor can prescribe them. When applying skin lightening products to your entire body, it is important to be careful of the ingredients of the treatment. Some contain mercury that can lead to mercury poison if too much is used. The United States have banned the use of mercury, but it can still be found in products purchased in other countries.

Risks of Skin Lightening Products

Most skin lightening products that are made in the United States are safe, but there can still be a few risks with excessive use. Most skin lightening treatments should not be used longer than 3 months at a time or in amounts of over 2% hydroquinone. The risks include:

• Pasty grey skin tone
• Skin tone unevenness
• Skin cancer
• Premature aging of skin
• Skin infections
• Acne
• Poor wound healing
• Skin irritation
• Allergic reactions

Do skin lightening treatments actually work? Yes, they can definitely help to lighten the skin pigmentation of a specific area of your skin or even all of your skin. As long as you use skin lightening products according to instructions, it can be a great method for brightening your skin.

After wetting your beard with warm water, lathering up with shaving cream, and using your razor of choice for a nice shave, you want your face to be as smooth as a baby’s bottom. But things don’t always work out as planned.

Razor burn is a common occurrence, and you’ll know you have it if, post-shave, you end up with a red rash, tenderness, little red bumps, a burning sensation, and/or itchiness. While razor burn is a temporary problem that will eventually go away on its own, it can be very uncomfortable and most of us need quick razor burn remedies to solve it.

Read on to learn about the causes of razor burn, prevention tips, and razor burn remedies that can help you to nip the problem in the bud should you ever experience razor burn.

Causes of Razor Burn

When it comes to razor burn, it’s important to know what causes it. There are, as it turns out, a number of things that can contribute to your getting razor burn. They include the following:

• Shaving without using a lubricant such as shaving cream, soap, or water
• Using an old razor
• Using a razor that is clogged with something like shaving cream, hair, or soap
• Shaving the same area excessively
• Using shaving products that cause skin irritation

It’s also important that you ensure that your razor is always in good shape. This means replacing it as required so that you’re not using a dull or corroded blade against your skin.

Razor Burn Prevention

While there are razor burn remedies that work, it’s cost effective and more convenient to try to avoid the problem altogether. So, with that said, here are some things you can do to avoid razor burn:

• Exfoliate regulatory to get rid of dead skin cells
• Use lubricant before shaving
• Don’t pull skin tightly while you’re shaving
• Shave using light and short strokes
• Regularly rinse your razor blade as you shave
• After you’ve finished shaving, use cold water to rinse your skin or put a cold washcloth on the area you’ve shaved in order to close the pores
• Replace your razor regularly

Razor Burn Remedies

If you have razor burn and want to treat symptoms such as redness, there are quite a few things that you can do. It’s likely that one or a combination of them will give you the relief you want. So, check out these razor burn remedies and find out which ones work best for you.

1. Use an Over the Counter Product: Use an over-the-counter skin care product that can help prevent skin irritation
2. Avoid Shaving Irritated Area: If you avoid shaving the affected area, you will give your skin the time it needs to heal and by so doing lessen the odds of encountering more infection, inflammation, or irritation.
3. Cool Compress: Using a wet, cool compress for as long as 20 minutes can help to bring some relief from razor burn and its symptoms.

As you can see, there are a number of razor burn remedies that you can try in the event that you end up experiencing this problem. Try some of them out the next time you get razor burn, and determine which ones work best for you.

We all know this universal truth: ingrown hairs are annoying and painful. As a busy mom, you don’t have time to deal with little ingrown hairs that distract you from doing all that you need to do every day. Between homework, practices, and of course your own work responsibilities—it’s near impossible to fit in time for self care. But it’s unhealthy and irresponsible to ignore a problem like ingrown hairs, that could lead to even worse skin infections.

Here are some ideas to help you get take care of ingrown hair treatment quickly so that you can get back to focusing on being a mom!

How to Identify Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hairs are hairs that get stuck under your skin and create a gross, pussy and very painful bump. They usually appear after shaving, but can potentially show up anywhere that you have hair. Even some particularly uncomfortable places like pubic hair can get ingrown hairs.

To effectively identify an ingrown hair, first look at the area around it. Most ingrown hairs grow in areas of course hair like pubic hairs or frequently shaved areas like armpits and legs. The bump will be tan or pink and sometimes you will be able to see a bit of the hair through the bump. In severe cases, there may even be a grouping of tan or pink bumps that means you have multiple ingrown hairs together.

Ingrown Hair Treatment

As a mom, you are always on the go. That’s why a lot of moms try to get rid of ingrown hairs quickly by scratching at them until they burst or picking at them until the hair comes loose. Unfortunately, those methods aren’t recommended because they can cause scars and infections.

Understandably, most mom’s don’t have time to run to the doctor every time they have a minor issue. So another option is to use an over the counter skin product to reduce the swelling of the bump. A few other home remedies for ingrown hair include:

• Use tweezers to gently remove the hair
• Using a warm washcloth to gently rub the ingrown hair
• Use a mild exfoliant like sugar to treat the irritation

You want to be cautious with home remedies though, as they may not be effective especially in eliminating redness the same way a great skin care product can.

Ingrown Hair Prevention

The fastest way to deal with an ingrown hair, is to not have to deal with it at all. Take a few moments to check that your razor is sharp and lather up to make sure that you don’t get any ingrown hairs.

Some ideas for preventing ingrown hairs are:

• Shave with a sharp single bladed razor
• Use a good shaving cream
• Hydrate to soften the area before shaving
• Moisturize after shaving

If you are constantly dealing with ingrown hairs or if you have one that simply won’t heal, then make sure to consult your doctor. Even though it may be embarrassing, ingrown pubic hairs need to be looked at just as much as hair from anywhere else.

Busy moms find ingrown hairs to be a painful nuisance. Don’t let them bug you anymore with a bit of skin care. Try to prevent ingrown hairs when possible by being careful when you shave and applying the right products before and after you shave. When you do get an ingrown hair, get rid of it right away. Pull out the hair and use a cream that reduces the bump. You will be back to juggling all of your normal mom duties in no time.